Charmed by You, an all-new must-read novella set in the Stark Security world from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner and 1,001 Dark Nights is available now!

Former vigilante-for-hire Simon BarrĂ© has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simonâs first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He canât even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second ruleânever fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazyâbut whose touch he undeniably craves.
The world might believe that Francesca Muratti leads a fairy tale life, but the truth is far darker. For years, sheâs kept a horrible secret about her best friendâs death. Now someone is threatening to kill Francesca if she doesnât reveal all. She needs protection, but thereâs no way sheâs going to tell the sexy Stark Security agent what she did or why sheâs being threatened. Which means that in order to survive and protect her secrets, Francesca must pull off the biggest acting job of her career: sheâs going to have to let Simon close, but not let him see her true heart.
**For fans of J. Kenner’s Stark Security series, Charmed By You is book nine in that series.**
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, itâs an introduction to an authorâs world. And for fans, itâs a bonus book in the authorâs series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

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Keep reading for a look inside Charmed By You!
He didnât want to like her.
He really, really, really didnât want to like her.
She was a self-involved, conceited, money-hungry star who lived in a fantasy world and didnât know a damn thing about real people or real problems. Just like every other actor in this fucked-up town.
He knew it. Was certain of it. He was familiar with the type, after all. Hadnât they destroyed his childhood? Ripped away his fiancĂ©e?
Oh, yeah. He knew better than to like or trust this breed, and Francesca Muratti was no exception. She was just one more spoiled actress whoâd caught the eye of a nut job with a grudge against spoiled actresses.
And yetâŠ
He bit back a grimace, hating that he had to acknowledge those two little words. And yetâŠ
And yet this spoiled, insufferable star was willing to put her life on the line to keep her fans happy.
This self-involved woman who made a living play-acting actually understood that the only reason she could enjoy the privilege of the life she had built was because sheâd been lifted onto her pedestal by those fans. More than that, she not only understood it, but she was willing to risk literally everything to offer her thanks to those fans the only way she knew howâby being there for them.
He didnât have to like her. Hell, he didnât like her.
But he damn well respected her.
âAll right,â he said, hopping down from the buffet and moving to stand opposite her across the table. âWeâve settled that youâre going to the con.â He glanced around the room, making sure no one intended to keep up the argument. When all remained silent, he nodded. âGood. That means weâre to the final point on todayâs agenda.â He met Francescaâs eyes. âWho sent the note? And what does he want you to reveal?â
He kept his attention locked on her, so there was no missing either the way her eyes widened just a hair or the slash of fury that cut across her undeniably beautiful face.
âDo I need to write you a song?â she snapped. âDo a tap dance? Or maybe you want me to tattoo the answer on my forehead. Some asshat wants me to say some magic words or else heâs going to kill me, and I. Do. Not. Know. What. They. Are.â
A tear snaked down her cheek, and she swiped it away, the gesture both angry and impatient.
âI canât tell what I donât know.â She spoke directly to him, and he took the challenge, moving closer until he was breathing her air and could smell the lilac in her perfume.
âThatâs kind of my point, sweetheart,â he said, studying her expression. Every tiny tick, every movement of her eyes. âI think you do.â
âExcuse me?â She glared at him. The kind of look designed to melt a lesser man.
Too bad for her, he wasnât a lesser man. âYou heard me,â he repeated.
Sparks flew from her eyes. Not literally, but he could damn sure imagine them. He said nothing. Just looked back at her mildly, keeping his own temper in check. He was an expert at not showing his feelings, and that was a skill that would come in handy with Francesca Muratti. Probably more than his dead-on aim with a pistol.
With a huff, she turned to face Ryan, then Damien. âAssign another agent, or Iâm firing the lot of you.â
âAnd here I thought you liked me. What with convincing them to let you go to the con.â
She whirled on him. âYou insufferable prick. Donât you dareââ
âFrannie. Calm down.â Damienâs voice was low. Reasonable. And Simon was absolutely positive that was the wrong approach to take.
âAre you fucking kidding me, Stark? The man just called me a liar to my face. I have no ideaâzero theoriesâas to whatâs going on, and heâs accusing me ofâŠwell, fuck him. Fuck all of you. Dammit.â
She blinked, her lips pressed tight together as she spun away, giving all of them her back. And for a momentâa very, very fleeting momentâSimon had the urge to put his hands on her shoulders and tell her that it would all work out.
âFrannie,â Damien said softly, âweâre going to get to the bottom of this.â
Her shoulders shook, and as much as she grated on him, he also knew that she was truly afraid. And because he was a damned idiot, his heart softened a little. At least until she spoke again.
âI donât want him here.â The words were low. Barely audible. âHeâs an arrogant prick, and I donât want him in my home. For that matter,â she added, turning to look at Damien and Ryan in turn, âI donât want anyone here. I got some stupid note, and I freaked, okay? But I shouldnât have, because thereâs nothing for me to tell. Nothing. Which means itâs a prank. A joke. Iâm safe. So go. All of you.â She shifted, eyeing everyone in the room. âGo on,â she snapped, her voice rising. âGet out of my house.â
Nobody moved.

About J. Kenner
J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over one hundred novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, âchicklitâ suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a âflair for dialogue and eccentric characterizationsâ and by RT Bookclub for having âcornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.â A six time finalist for Romance Writers of Americaâs prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy) and in 2017 for Wicked Dirty in the same category. Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development as a television show.
Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
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đŹReviewđŹ
Francesca is a successful actress who is being threatened as someone believes that she has information that they want. She contacts Stark Security however she finds Simon, the man assigned to protect her, annoying as he believes she knows more than she is saying.
Looking after an entitled actress is not the assignment that Simon wanted however, he soon finds out that she is much different than he thought and that his need to protect extends far beyond the professional to the personal.
Suspense, surprises and steam as Francesca and Simon take us on quite the ride.